Panache’s basic Superbra range was recommended to me when I got married, and while Freya’s Deco Multiway won that race at the crucial moment of having to have something sewn in to my dress, when I found Zara on sale recently I had to give it a go.

I think I made the right choice with my Deco Multiway. Zara feels like a lovely bra – she’s soft and supple and has all the hallmarks of a bra that would see you from alter to afterparty in comfort – but there’s something off the the sizing. I spent ages switching around the straps from normal to cross backed to halter but to no avail: the back was too loose and the cups too small, meaning the front couldn’t lay flat against my sternum and the whole thing felt insecure. I’d recommend sizing down once in the back and going up twice in the cup (to ensure additional volume on the smaller back sizes). I’d need to go from a 30G to a 28H – putting me just out of range for this bra.

If you’ve got time to spend figuring things out in the changing room, or your size adjustment is within range, she’s a soft and quality feeling bra in a lovely dusty pink colour. But it’s a another miss for me. I’m not having much luck this year…

Panache’s Zara is available in sizes 28-38 D-G.

I’ve recommended Freya’s staple swim range Fever countless times. Simple, understated, and stylish, it’s an easy basic for girls who shy away from patterns, or who want a one-piece with a bit of extra p-pow. That said – always distracted by patterns – I’ve never actually tried her myself.

I’m glad to say I haven’t been recommending a turkey. I’m a big fan of Freya Swim – I haven’t found a swimwear brand that fits or suits me so well, and their ever-expanding ranges have a huge variety of sizes and styles for all tastes. The Fever sweetheart/balconette bikini is no exception. She’s nice and firm in the back (something you want if like me you’re not a sit-down-and-sunbathe-for-eight-hours-solid kind of a girl). She is ever so slightly big at the tip of the cup, but with fully adjustable straps this is easily resolved without any telltale puckering. She’s also very slightly padded, which is a nice extra layer of modesty/structural integrity for the nervous. Fit wise, she’s great.

And I love that Fever is more special than your average black swimwear. The subtle black stitching and retro style fold and button detail makes it more pool-bar special than your average sports combo, but without being too ostentatious for girls who like to be understated. Constantly reinvented in new colourways, Fever is already a classic and a great staple for any sunshine holiday wardroble.

The Freya Fever sweetheart bikini is available in sizes 30-36 D-GG and 38 D-G… however, Fever runs up to a JJ cup in the plunge style for those with more up top.

Weird. In a recent review of Curvy Kate’s Roxie I said I didn’t miss their Showgirl range. But it would seem however that Figleaves did – because while Tease Me is gone, Tease is back – reanimated by Figleaves Boudoir for 2014.

To be fair to Figleaves it’s not a carbon copy and I suspect (hope) the name is just a coincidence. But the jewel tones, fussy lace overlay, and odd frills that refuse to rest happily under clothes mean that Tease has me flashing back to everything I didn’t like about the hugely popular range by Curvy Kate. Those mourning Showgirl’s disappearance, take note…

It’s worth saying that this bra gets stellar reviews on Figleaves’ website, from girls who are also a 30G. But I really did not get on with this it. Like other reviewers, I found the back too tight, but this effect was exacerbated by the super skinny two-hook fastening which – dropping from quite a tall side cup – forced the back band in to quite a sharp angle and to dig in. It’s also small in the front, which comes with the dual bonus of thrusting one’s cleavage chinwards and over-emphasising the only partially attached lace underneath clothes. I suppose if I liked the bra more I might try a 32G, but the plain truth is this bra does nothing for me. It’s much prettier and delicate on this model (and presumably, in a smaller size) in the flesh. On, I just felt like I was in raggedy showgirl fancy dress. And for a bra that retails at nearly £50, that’s not good enough for me.

Figleaves Boudoir’s Tease is available in sizes 30B-36G. I have to say: Curvy Kate did it better.

Photo from Figleaves.com

What happens when a bra fitting experience turns in to a daily nightmare?

Help Me Busts 4 Justice

I was recently fitted in a specialty store from my old size of 36B into a 32D. I was informed that I was wearing a hilariously incorrect size and learned the swoop and scoop (not generally taught to smaller busted women, in my experience). I tried on a bunch of bras ranging from 34C-32DD, and the fitter said the 32D was the best size for me.

Here’s the problem: it’s incredibly uncomfortable. The fitter explained that the smaller band may take a little getting used to but I want to rip this bra off my body every time I put it on. The wires don’t appear to be sitting on top of breast tissue, but they dig in and I can feel them all day. The cups will occasionally move out of place, if for example I reach both hands up above my head, but are impossible to move back without grabbing the cups with my hands and hauling them back down. I have red marks around my torso, chest and shoulders when I take the bra off and my breasts feel tender. I feel like I suddenly have all these problems I’ve heard women with large breasts complain about, but it’s ridiculous because I’m small enough that I don’t even need to wear a bra. 

I know it sounds like the obvious answer is a smaller band and a bigger cup, but the one I bought is so tight and uncomfortable I’m terrified to go any smaller in the band. It’s not a cheap bra either, it’s a Marie Jo. My underbust measures 31″ with the tape measure pulled tight, 32″ comfortably, and over bust is 36.5″. How do I get justice for my bust?

K

Hey K,

Thanks for your e-mail – and sorry to hear your bust appears to be suffering an injustice at the hands of a zealous bra fitter!

While I do know that many women, especially those with heavier breasts, benefit from wearing tighter bras and the method promoted by your fitter – your fitter seems to have forgotten a massively important part of her job: measurements are only one part of the puzzle, and the only ‘right’ bra is the one that the wearer loves.

It’s true that tighter bras do take some getting used to, but usually that means a couple of days before you forget it’s there totally from one end of the day to the next. From your description, it seems clear that your bra is far too tight. While red marks in themselves aren’t anything to worry about (think about when you take your tights off), pain is – and you don’t have to suffer it because a fitter tells you it’s right!

This could be down to a few things. Firstly, your Marie Jo could run very tight in the band, in which case 32D may indeed work for you in other brands. Secondly, your body type might just not get on with tighter bands. This is often the case with muscular body types, and also women with prominent ribs – in which case you could try sister size 34C for a better match. Ultimately, all three bra sizes – 32D, 34C and your old 36B have the same equivalent volume – it’s about what gives you the support you want and the comfort you need.

Assuming you don’t want to go back to the torture dungeon, here are some things to look out for when trying on bras yourself.

1: Sizing (unfortunately) is not standardized. A 32D in Marie Jo may not fit the same as a 32D in, say, Freya. Always take multiple sizes in to the changing room and don’t be afraid to veer from your ‘starter size’ if the fits not right. Most women have multiple sizes in their lingerie draw.

2: After ‘swooping and scooping’, adjust the straps to fit. They should not slip, but they should never be tight or dig in to your shoulders at all – it sounds as if you may have your Marie Jo straps pulled far too tight (or, if you are tall, the Marie Jo straps may be far too short). This could explain why your cups have been moving up so much (and staying there!).

3: Check the band. It should be horizontal and remain so as you move around. It should be firm but not uncomfortable. You should be able to get two fingers under the clasp and pull away an inch quite comfortably. The centre gore at the front should sit flat against the body – it sitting away could mean your cups are too small and/or your band is too loose.

4: Check the cups. The wire should track along underneath where your breast meets your torso, and it should not sit on the breast tissue anywhere. Cups should sit smoothly at the top of the breast, and not dig in (too small) nor pucker/gape (too big).

When trying alternate sizes, when going up a band size always go down a cup size (and vice versa) to get equivalent volume.

I hope this helps you navigate your way to the right bra. Remember, ultimately finding the right bra comes down to your preference and what personally feels right for you while giving you the support you want.

Good luck, and let me know how you get on!

Love from B4J x

I’m a well documented fan of Figleaves – largely because their international shipping service is quick and easy, and way more affordable than shopping locally (€70 for an out-of-season Freya? No thank you, Amsterdam boutiques). I also have a soft spot for their own brand lines. Although I’ve had a decidedly uneven range of experiences with Figleaves Boudoir (here, here and here), Just Peachy is a cracking everyday option for a girl on a budget (here and here and here too), and both their own name range and Midnight Grace have been responsible for some affordable and fashionable swimwear options over the last couple of years too (here and here). So I was pretty excited to hear that Figleaves are launching another sub-brand, this time branding out to an H cup. Lulu Tout is an affordable, sophisticated range of styles that are every-day enough to be, well, everyday – but pretty enough to wear on special occasions. I love the range of colours and the dainty embroidery that threads through the range, and actually had a hard time narrowing down my choice of bra to review. (Somehow, I coped…) Settling on Amelie (low plunge, beautiful scalloping, sheer fabric: winner), I couldn’t wait to try her. And I wasn’t disappointed. Fit wise she’s firm, and the underwire tracks nicely. In my go-to size of 30G the fit was pretty bang on, although I had to tighten the straps to flatten the cups. Inbetweeny cup sizes may want to consider sizing down a half cup to find the perfect fit. Both top and bottom are very flattering, and I loved the sheer knickers with the “bead embroidery” – there’s something very flapper-esque about the detail. On, it looks like a much more expensive piece of lingerie than its modest £24 price tag. That said, the bra itself is actually quite simply constructed. The slings aren’t stitched down – which is a bit fiddly when you’re getting yourself in to it but means it avoids that “suspension bridge” appearance some sheer bras have. In general it gives good support and a nice shape, and for the money I think is a great purchase. It would seem that Figleaves have done it again, and created another great affordable option for girls looking for something a little special on a budget. My only niggle would be that the feel of the fabric itself betrays its price point - it feels cheaper than it looks, and a slightly softer fabric mix would make this bra a knock out. But for the price and the fit, I don’t think it’s a bad little bargain at all. Thanks to Figleaves for sharing Amelie with me. Looking forward to seeing where the range goes next. Lulu Tout’s Amelie underwired bra is available in sizes between 30-38 DD-H.

My Odette has to go in to my lingerie hall of fame – not as another pretty, vintage-feel bra from Affinitas’ Parfait collection (which it is) – but as the most well travelled review item ever. This summer it has been to Sao Paulo, Boston, New York, London, back to Amsterdam, back to London and on to Sicily in the hope that I might have time on my travels to review it. I am nothing if not optimistic.

Although it ran a little small in the cup, I liked their Charlotte a lot [still available, review here] and I liked Odette too. It’s a simple floral number, and it gives a really nice 50’s style cleavage (think Betty Draper rather than Joan Harris). Fit wise, it could be snugger in the back – even post Sicilian Carb Binge it was loose. The cups are fractionally small though, so sizing down in the back would have sized me out of the range. Sad face. Greedily, I can’t wait for this lovely little establishing brand to branch out beyond its D-G range.

Unfortunately while the fit is nearly there, as is my eternal curse with balconette styles, the centre gore is a little taller than my flared and bony rib cage can hack for extended wear – especially on a band that can’t anchor steadfastly to my body. So after all of those intercontinental adventures this little treat will remain for now at home.

One quick note – as per Charlotte I absolutely love the pants. Affinitas are clearly knicker wizards. Flattering with soft lacy bits that don’t do their best to expose themselves through your clothing, these are cracking little undercrackers. Fit seems true to size, so unlike with Charlotte and her mind-meltingly matching bottoms you don’t need to size down. Enjoy!

Odette by Parfait from Affinitas is available in sizes 30-40 D-G.

Thanks very much to the kind people at Affinitas for the sample: I’m sorry it took about 10,000 air miles to get to print! xoxo

Photo from affinitasintimates.com (less retouching on the poor models for future lookbooks please!)

So I have been travelling and working a lot, and with my brain super busy with all that it’s made some inexplicable decisions in other aspects of my life. I’ll abandon getting dressed half way through to write one e-mail, only to come round an hour later shivering and powering through my list of things to do. I have made some questionable style choices, not least cutting my own bangs (when will I learn, seriously?). And, when asked to review a bra for Bestform I chose a style not available in my size… from a brand who makes my size.

I have started running again for my sanity, so I am coming back in to the light…

But that still leaves me with a 32FF bra to review. Bestform are a 91 year old lingerie company, and while they definitely do a stalwart line in – let’s say – conservative basics, of late they’ve been pushing their brand forward with brighter colours and prettier patterns. They cater for a range of sizes from a 30 back and up to a J cup.

Which again, doesn’t really explain why, 30G and a fan of bright things, I requested a black 32FF Rome…

Everything about Rome is classic. It’s decent quality, the full balconette offers good coverage and the wires perfectly encased my boobs. The “B” pendant on the centre gore may be a little much if your name isn’t, say, Beckie and you don’t write a blog called Busts 4 Justice, but no one’s named a bra after me yet so I’ll take what I can get.

The only problem is – just as with any bigger banded bra – is simple physics. With big boobs, it really doesn’t matter how well the cup fits if the band doesn’t anchor them to your body strongly enough; if your breasts are heavy their weight will pull the perfectly fitted cups away from your ribcage and you end up a jiggling mess. I – and many other women – need a tight band to keep everything in place. This is why the traditional +4 method fails so many fuller breasted women: heavier breasts simply need a stronger counterweight to keep them up. See, physics.

I won’t labour my struggles with this bra – especially as I’ve reviewed Bestform in my correct size before and found it to be a great fit. Ultimately in cup fit, quality, style – this bra is a decent basic. They just don’t happen to make it in my back size.

I’m not having a great streak in 2014. Need topick up some sizzlers to ride the year out with a bang…

Thanks to the kind people at Bestform for letting me try this bra: I can only apologise for my ordering insanity!

So readers may remember me mentioning last year that I’d gotten in to a bit of a lingerie funk and I needed to get out of it. Well, I’m totally getting round to that. Except… well, I got distracted by a bikini first. As I write, heavy winds are blowing rain inside through the walls but goddam it I can hug a radiator and pretend I’m in Mexico.

I’ve always had a bit of a Minnie Mouse fixation, and so this Monroe halter bikini from Figleaves’ own Midnight Grace had me at first sight… even before I’d clocked the amazing high-waisted matching bottoms. This was my bikini! This was my year!

Well, almost. Underwired, padded and very structured the Monroe should – on paper – be a great and supportive bikini. But something has gone very wrong. The cups are a very strange shape: virtually flattened on the side – and so there’s just no room for your boobs. Speaking of Minnie Mouse, my boobs were pressed in to giant Disney mouse ears, balancing precariously over a misshapen and unsteady cup. My chest looked mangled. My face looked extremely disappointed.

It’s a great style and the bottoms are amazing, but the fit is all over the shop. Actually, the photo itself should have given me a clue: look closely at the top picture and at just how much retouching has gone in to make that cleavage look ‘normal’ when the centre gore is sitting away from the body and to one side!

My 30G felt more like a 30F, maybe even 30E – so consider sizing up (way up) if you want to try it out. We’re heading in to a whole new season for swimwear though… much better to wait for something more special to come along.

Midnight Grace’s Monroe Underwired Padded Halter Bikini is available from Figleaves in sizes 30-38 D-GG.

Images borrowed from Figleaves.

A team in Australia have been busy creating a tech solution to an extremely common problem: having boobs while exercising. In the future, instead of risking pain and long term damage to breast tissue, your “Bionic Bra” would use smart technological to adapt to movement in real time to deliver the support you need. Clever concept.

Although, here’s the thing. There are already sports bras on the market that can deliver the support you need – even for intensive exercise – and even for large breasts. Trust me, I’m a G-Cup. I used to exercise in two bras and a support top to try and keep things in place – and still something with repetitive bouncing like running would be impossible for me. Then I found Freya’s Underwired Active bra (still my favourite, although there are multiple options on the high-street now) and my life changed.

The trick? The technology? The science? The right bra in the right size. It’s that simple.

I (along with many, many others) have long written that the standard fitting methods employed by many bra fitters (especially in high street stores) are inadequate for women with a certain volume of breast. Standard fitting finds your back size by adding 4/5 inches to your ‘true’ back measurement. And this method serves a lot of women just fine. But as you approach a DD cup, the weight of your breasts increases. It is just physics that you need a stronger counter-weight to hold that weight up. 80% of that strength comes from the band of your bra. If it’s not firmly strapped to your back, how can it hold up the weight of your breasts? If it’s not properly anchored, how is it going to be able to support you during vigorous exercise?

Try this quick test: take off your shirt and look at how your bra is fitting after at least 30 minutes of wear. Are the shoulders digging in? Is the back riding up? If so, you probably need a stronger anchor – so you need a smaller back size*.

I’m all for engineers experimenting with wearable tech – enhancing our lives and experiences with clever hacks that make things work better. But on this count – instead of holding our breaths for a bionic miracle – wouldn’t it just be easier if we all had access to better bra fitting?

* Note – if you’re sizing down in the back, you need to remember to size up in the front to get equivalent volume. Click here for more info about sister sizing.

Source: Lingerie Insight 

A perfect fit is much more nuanced than a letter and a number. Being full up top or full up bottom, having wide set breasts or ones that sit close together – these are all perfectly normal variations that will mean your perfect fit is different from someone else with the same bra size. For me, it’s the shape of my rib cage. It’s bony and it flares at the bottom.

This is not something you would notice, or not something that remotely bothers me. It just is. And specifically, it is the reason that many balconette bras don’t work for me. It’s a bummer because I love balconette styles, but anything with too tall a centre gore won’t sit properly on my sternum and after a few short minutes of wear I’m tearing it from my body.

Which is why Curvy Kate’s Firecracker leaped off the screen and in to my basket. It’s a deep, deep plunge bra – but with a lace detail and shape that makes it for everyday that for show-stopping cleavage moments.

In my usual 30G I found it fractionally big in the cup which made the lace baggy, but after adjusting the straps it wasn’t really noticeable. The 3-hook back was nice and firm. My only gripe was the feel of it. CK describe the cup as being “laminated for firm support”, which it certainly does give – but it feels a little plasticky with it. I also struggle with the matching undercracker options – I love a frill as much as the next girl, but I also need knickers that don’t give me VPL at 20 paces.

On balance, though it’s not for me Firecracker really is a really good bra – it gives a flattering, subtle cleavage with a great, comfortable support. It’s also dirt cheap over on Brastop right now, if you’re looking for a bargain…

More of this shape in future, Curvy Kate!

Photo borrowed from Brastop.com

Last week, Wacoal Eveden fans received a quiet farewell from Freya and Fantasie’s sister brand Fauve. Fauve is no more, and fans are asked to turn to Fantasie or Wacoal for their luxe lingerie needs.

I’m a little sad about this passing. If Fauve were a sister, she was more sophisticated and more glamorous than the other brands could hope to be. Sumptuous designs and fabrics, beautiful styles; Fauve had a grown-up elegance I am definitely yet to achieve.

She wasn’t perfect though. Although she looked stunning (I maintain that Fauve’s Bronte – above – is one of the most beautiful creations ever committed to G-Cup), her sizing could be inconsistent and she never braved it past a G Cup. If Fauve’s dissolution means Fauve style luxury up to a K cup (as promised by the e-mail) then that is one fantastic silver lining.

We can hope. I’ve not yet tried Wacoal (it is very high on my list to explore) but I’m very curious about how this will steer the previously inconsistent Fantasie. It’s veered from frumpy to fantastic and back again, often murderously high on my (yes, this again) bony sternum. And stranger for a brand hoping to pick up where another luxe one left off, the latest of theirs I’ve tried (Melissa in Black, review coming this week) is… well, it feels a bit cheap and scratchy.

We can but wait and see. In the meantime, I’m crossing everything. And pausing for a moment to reflect on Bronte: the most perfect bra I never owned. If Wacoal or Fantasie could successfully re-animate her, they’d have me for life.

Finding the perfect bra size can be life changing, but what happens if you can’t afford your new bra size?

Help me Busts 4 Justice!

Hello, I found this blog while searching for bra sizing charts. The whole ordeal is dizzying. For most of my boob life I’ve worn ill fitting uncomfortable bras. That changed when I gave my cousin a farewell hug and she asked if I was wearing a bra…. I went to the department store to get sized, the lady said I was a 36 B, even though the bras I tried were just obviously not right. My boobs got blamed. After many countless hours of research on the internet I found a more accurate size but they don’t carry it in department stores AT ALL. Now I’m struggling to find decently priced bras in my size that are comfortable and supportive. The only place I can go is online and with international shipping and conversion fees on my credit card I’m starting to feel desperate. Most  brands that carry my size, UK 30 F, US 30 G  are between 60-120 dollars. I’m really frustrated.

N

Hi N,

I’m so glad that you’ve managed to find a better bra size, and I certainly feel your pain on cost. I find it staggering that the US is so far behind Europe in servicing fuller cups. But there are a couple of tricks you can try to make your money go further:

1: Nordstrom Rack – bargains to be had and they do carry European DD+ brands. I always check it out when I’m in the States.

2: E-bay – you’re not alone: there are loads of women in America struggling with the same thing. Often it’s cheaper to sell things on e-bay that don’t fit rather than shipping them back

3: Check out sites that do deliver for free internationally. Large Cup Lingerie is a great example, and I think Figleaves.com should too (they always have free shipping and 20% discount offers, so worth following). There are also really amazing bargains to be had in the sales at the moment.

What I would also say is that with bigger breasts it is worth paying a little extra for quality, but you can dramatically increase the life of your bras by caring for them kindly. Your bras should never see the inside of a washing machine or dryer. I am pretty lazy, so I wash mine when I’m in the shower with some gentle shampoo. Always let them air dry, keep them off radiators. All these tricks keep the elastic from deteriorating and so extend the life of the bra dramatically – meaning your investment goes a lot further.

Thanks for your e-mail, and I really hope this helps. Good luck!

Love from B4J x

What say you readers? What are your top tips for bigger bra shopping on a budget? Let us know below and help N replace her lingerie wardrobe with her perfect fit.

So as promised, hot on the heels of the announcement that Fauve fans could now only find their fix of beautiful luxe lingerie from sister brands Fantasie and Wacoal, I have my first Fantasie set of 2015 in my paws. How does Melissa compare next to the satiny comfort of its soon to be departed sister?

Welllll… On the model, Melissa is a perfect example of classic, elegant, grown up lingerie. So far, so very Fauve. Subtle sheer fabric, ornate lacing, tasteful non-VPL-inducing knickers. It’s no Bronte, sure (what set ever will be?) but it’s beautiful and simple and right up my alley.

Fit wise she’s great too. My normal 30G worked just fine, and she gave a lovely cleavage – subtle, not pushed up or too east-west. Technically, I should be excited.

Except, however lovely she looks and fits, Melissa feels… cheap. And she’s not. At £41/$75 she’s at the upper end of the high-street lingerie scale, but the meshing felt rough – not at all what I would expect from the heir to Fauve’s throne. I can forgive that on actual economy lingerie – such as Figleaves’ own brands – but for that price point I want something soft and special.

To be fair, Fauve just vanished so perhaps this is isn’t quite a fair fight. But I know I and others will be watching Fantasie with interest over the coming months. Can it live up to the legacy of her older sister?

Fantasie’s Melissa is available in sizes 30-32 D-GG, 34-38 C-GG, and 40 D-G.

I love a good Kickstarter at the best of times, but Impish Lee doesn’t sound so much like an exciting new business venture as it does something plucked out of my wildest dreams and made real.

Impish Lee want to create the world’s first completely customisable lingerie range. From size to style to fabric to colour to trim: you decide what you want and this Brooklyn-based sister dream team will ensure it’s made for you (ethically, in America). You see? I am expecting to see a unicorn any day now.

They call this impossible sounding feat “mass customisation” – the logic being that the current mass production process is expensive and generates an awful lot of waste that can be cut out with a smart but bespoke service. You can read their post about it here.

Oh, and they also plan to use resale of returns to raise money for poverty fighting charity the “Robin Hood Foundation“.

Unfortunately for me they’re launching with cup sizes only up to US DD but the lovely Noelle assured me that they “absolutely will be expanding our bra sizes (eventually to include nearly all!!) and should most likely have those cup sizes (but their US equivalent) by the end of this year, if not sooner! Depending on how well we do in our first month open, we will move right into larger sizes.” Seriously. This is like the bra equivalent of the moon on a stick made of strawberry laces.

The good news? It’s already been funded. The better news? You’ve still got a few hours to nip in and be a backer anyway – meaning you’ll be amongst the first to receive frillies from Impish Lee. They have a bold, daring and incredibly challenging task ahead of them – and I cannot wait to see what these girls do now.

Photo by Impish Lee (thank you!!).

There are many perks to being back in the UK. Friends, family and this great new trend for small batch gin for starters. But also, actually being in the right country for press-previews: sneaky peaks in to the upcoming lingerie and swimwear seasons is pretty high on the list.

Wacoal Eveden – home to Freya, Fantasie, Elomi, Huit, B.tempt’d and Wacoal and Goddess – were kind enough to throw me a welcome home party invite me to their preview in London earlier this month. So in the interests of paying the joy forward, here are a few glimpses for you to whet your whistle until the next season. Please keep in mind I haven’t really so much as looked at a physical rail of bras in over a year. It was dark. I was excited. These are not the finest photographs committed to iPhone. They do show, however, a solid new season – with quite a wide mix of styles and colours to play with. Oh, and one mind-blowing innovation….

Let’s start at the start.. Freya busting out a couple of cheeky classics with Starlet and Minx.

Fantasie have definitely upped their game with softer fabrics and wider variety of shapes. Plus there’s a fantastic Fauve-esque long-line option coming (not shown):

Elomi rocking some cracking floral pants. Look at these beauts!

Enough tropical swimwear to populate six Wham videos:

Wacoal gave me serious small boob envy:

So did Huit:

Oh, that mind-blowing innovation? Just a Freya Deco swim coming late this summer. No biggie. *hyperventilates*

Here’s to the autumn…